THE Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP) wants a 20% uniform tolerance level for excess truck weight under Republic Act 8794 or the No Overloading Law.
CTAP said the Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) proposal pegging varying tolerance levels for different truck configurations is not attractive since the proposals are just a little more than what the law provides in the first place.
DPWH is pushing a tolerance ratio ranging from 6% for six-wheeler trucks to 19% for 18-wheelers. If approved, the limits will form part of next month’s tentative imposition of the maximum gross allowable vehicle weight (MAGVW) for all trucks plying Philippine roads. The existing 13.5 ton per axle load limit will also be scrapped by then.
In a letter to Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, CTAP president Ruperto Bayocot said, “The proposed GVW puts more premium to configurations not commonly used in the Philippines, leaving Codes 1-1, 1-2 (10-wheeler), 12-2 (18-wheeler) and 12-3 (22-wheeler) (configurations commonly used locally) to post a minimal percentage increase (for tolerance) of less than 10%,” Bayocot said.
“So as not to jeopardize and compromise the interest of both truckers and the government, CTAP proposes that a uniform increase on the existing GVW equivalent to 20% tolerance across the board be made irrespective of the carrier’s configuration,” Bayocot explained, adding that the suggested GVW is consistent with the 13.5 ton per axle allowable limit under RA 8794.
The DPWH GVW guideline for Codes 1-1, 1-2 (10-wheeler), 12-2 (18-wheeler), and 12-3 (22-wheeler) trucks are 18 tons, 29 tons, 41 tons and 42 tons, respectively.
Specifically, CTAP is proposing that Code 1-1 trucks have a tolerance weight of up to 20.25 tons; penalties will be imposed only when the load is more than 25.32 tons.
For Code 1-2, the tolerance weight proposal is up to 32.70 tons and penalties commence when the load is more than 40.875 tons.
For Code 12-2, the proposal is up to 45.35 tons and penalties to start kicking in if the weight is more than 56.70 tons.
The CTAP suggested weight limit for Code 12-3 without penalty is 49.20 tons and more than 61.50 tons with penalty.
